The burden of my comments tonight is that the NHS is receiving a cut in its budgets as a result of the VAT increase, so, again, it is a broken promise from the Prime Minister.

VAT is a deeply regressive tax whose impact on the most vulnerable in our society will be seen only when the comprehensive spending review is produced in the autumn. VAT will bite on NHS services in constituencies such as mine of Pontypridd, and right across this country, and we should oppose that wholeheartedly.